2004 Lexus ES Problems, Recalls & Reliability
47 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2004 Lexus ES, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 10/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 158,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2004 Lexus ES has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2004 sits among all ES years
What owners report
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 33 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 102,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 49,000 and 155,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls
No recall campaigns on file for the 2004 Lexus ES.
Technical service bulletins
50 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2004 Lexus ES. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2004 Lexus ES reliable?
The 2004 Lexus ES drew 47 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 10/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).
What are the most common 2004 Lexus ES problems?
The top reported problems for the 2004 Lexus ES are airbags (16 complaints), speed control (9), and engine (4).
At what mileage do 2004 Lexus ES problems show up?
Owners most often report 2004 Lexus ES problems around 102,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 49,000 and 155,000 miles.
Does the 2004 Lexus ES have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 2004 Lexus ES. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check the VIN before buying.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.